Dorset AONB

The Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty stretches across the county like a proper backbone, and the moment you drive through it you understand why it got the designation. It's not one spot you tick off - it's a landscape that wraps around everything worth seeing down here, from the limestone cliffs near Weymouth to the heathlands rolling inland.

Walkers get the most from this. The South West Coast Path cuts through the AONB and delivers views that make you forget to breathe properly. You could spend a week hiking different sections and never repeat yourself. Families with younger kids do better tackling smaller stretches rather than full-day walks - the coastal bits near Weymouth are accessible enough, though the terrain gets unforgiving in places. History buffs will lose hours tracing old chalk figures and Iron Age hillforts tucked into the valleys.

There's no entrance fee because it's not a managed attraction in the traditional sense - you're paying for accommodation nearby, petrol to get here, that sort of thing. A day wandering the cliffs costs you nothing but time, and you'll need a good few hours to do it justice. Go May through September for reliable weather, though autumn light turns the grassland golden and the crowds thin considerably.

If you're staying at Chesil Beach Lodge Park just 2 miles away, you're brilliantly positioned. Use it as your base and the AONB becomes your private playground - walks literally start from your tent or caravan. The proximity means you can do proper expeditions without worrying about driving.